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This is Phase II of a three stage project whose overall goals are to develop viable community-based HIV prevention interventions and to form and maintain the necessary community collaborations to support such Adolescent Trials Network (ATN) research activities.

This phase will describe specific locations within high-risk areas where youth, ages 12-24, spend time. HIV risk behaviors, social networking patterns and HIV prevalence among youth at these venues will be assessed by administering anonymous computerized interviews to eligible and willing youth. This information will be shared with community partners during scheduled working group meetings.

Condition or disease

HIV Infection

Detailed Description:

This is Phase II of a three stage project whose overall goals are to develop viable community-based HIV prevention interventions and to form and maintain the necessary community collaborations to support such ATN research activities.

During this phase, each ATN site will gather additional information within high-risk areas and solicit community partner input to ultimately pinpoint the specific locations where at-risk youths, ages 12-24, may be recruited for interventions. This will be done by the following methods:

Venues will be identified by HIV+ youth at the ATN site by participation in an anonymous computerized interview. Site staff will then perform brief venue interviews (BVIs) at selected venues to assess the potential yield of youths 12-24 years old. Community partners will also provide the site staff with information on known high-risk venues. High-risk venues will further be identified by the results of anonymous computerized interviews and HIV assays obtained from eligible and willing youth participants at the venues. The interviews will gather information on HIV risk behaviors, social networking patterns and HIV prevalence among youths at these venues. This information will be shared with community partners during scheduled working group meetings.

HIV infected youth in treatment/care will be interviewed using Audio Computer-Assisted Self-Administered Interview ACASI technology to reveal possible venues where youth at high risk for acquiring the disease may be found (N = 20-30 individuals per ATN site).

BVI Individuals

Additional data will be gathered on potential recruitment venues by administering a brief venue interview (BVI) to individuals who appear to be between 12 and 24 years old (N = unlimited individuals during 3-5 assessment periods per venue each lasting 5 hours).

HIV Serosurvey Individuals

HIV Serosurvey Individuals Anonymous structured interview using ACASI technology and an anonymous HIV antibody assay will be administered to 20-30 young women at 2-3 targeted locations and 20-30 young men at 2-3 targeted locations whose HIV status is unknown (N = 160-360 individuals per ATN site)..

Ascertain specific community venues where at-risk youth can be recruited for interventions within the high-risk areas identified in the first Phase of the study [ Time Frame: One time assessment at 10 months ]

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Ages Eligible for Study:

12 Years to 24 Years (Child, Adult)

Sexes Eligible for Study:

All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers:

Yes

Sampling Method:

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

HIV infected youth, ages 12 through 24 years old, in treatment/care at each of the 15 ATN sites will be interviewed using ACASI technology to reveal possible venues where youth at high risk for acquiring the HIV may be found. Individuals approached at 3-5 of these identified venues who appear to be 12 through 24 years will be offered a brief venue interview. Anonymous HIV serosurvey (ACASI and HIV-Ab assay) will be administered to 20-30 young women at 2-3 identified high-risk venues, and 20-30 young men at 2-3 identified high-risk venues, who provide verbal confirmation of being 12 through 24 years old, and whose HIV status is unknown to the site staff.